We take a look at the main event of NORTH’s first show of the year, as Leon Slater defended his title against Mike Bailey.
This one’s from the Linskill Centre in North Shields – a sold-out venue for NORTH’s first show of the year, which was held in front of an all-ages crowd. It’s a rematch from Rev Pro’s 10 Year Anniversary show in 2022, but this time Slater’s got a title to defend, and a lot more big match experience under his belt. Tom Campbell and Veda Scott are on hand for commentary… and credit to the NORTH production crew for the insane turnaround for this match!
NORTH Championship: Mike Bailey vs. Leon Slater (c)
After both men played to the crowd, things burst into life when Slater broke out of a wristlock and dropkicked Bailey to the outside… but put on the brakes rather than dive after his challenger so early on.
Bailey returns to the ring for a lock-up, briefly taking down Slater, only to get kicked outside as the champion followed out with a plancha. Back inside, Slater trips up Bailey ahead of a slingshot splash back in, before Speedball found a way back in, booting Slater off the apron ahead of the triangle moonsault from the inside to the floor.
Slater’s kept on the outside as Bailey chopped and kicked him around by the guard rails, before he charged back in to catch Leon unawares with a knee strike in the corner. It’s clearly a more aggressive Speedball on show here, as kicks and a double knee drop helped him on his way to a two-count, before Bailey offered himself up for a chop.
Of course, Slater accepts the offer, but the back-and-forth quickly ends with Leon getting hung up in the ropes en route to a flying double knee drop to the back. Slater powders outside, but Bailey stays on him with kicks before putting Slater across the rails for another flying double knee drop, this time off of the apron, as the crowd were starting to not quite like the challenger’s aggression.
Slater beats the count-out, then caught Bailey with a rewind enziguiri, before he outsmarted him with a handspring back elbow. A running dropkick’s next as Bailey’s unable to get out of the corner, but the follow-up Blue Thunder Bomb’s escaped as Slater had to make do with a running front kick to pick up a two-count.
Another front kick sends Speedball over the top rope to the outside, but he’s quickly back in to cut off a dive and nail Slater with scissor kicks. More kicks have Slater laying ahead of a standing shooting star press for a two-count as Bailey began to make his experience pay off. Leon invites kicks, literally, which Bailey gladly delivered, but Slater’s able to pick up the pace, avoiding kicks before dualling head kicks connected at the same time.
With both men back to their feet, they measure each other up for elbow strikes, going back-and-forth until Bailey edged ahead. The groggy Slater tries to collect himself, but was able to escape a suplex as he came back with a front kick and a twisting suplex. Pushing on, Slater heads up top for a swanton 450… but he rolls through as Bailey moved away, before a caught handspring led to the pair spilling backwards over the ropes. Bloody hell lads…
Bailey rolls back in first, but catches Slater on the apron, sweeping the leg ahead of the moonsault knees. Back inside, Bailey lifts up Slater for a Flamingo driver, but it’s blocked as Leon ended up taking a top rope ‘rana… before he rolled away from an Ultima Weapon attempt. Speedball comes right back with a reverse ‘rana, but celebrated too soon and got caught with a leg lariat as Slater added a heckuva Blue Thunder Bomb for a near-fall.
Rolling outside, Bailey manages to avoid the heat from Slater… moving away from a dive… only for Slater to go over the ring post with a flip senton into the crowd. Back inside, Leon’s caught with a gamengiri on the top rope as he took way too long to follow up, but Slater counters the counter with an avalanche twisting suplex, before a hurancanrana from Bailey offered a swift response.
See-saw pins end with a PK from Bailey, then another moonsault knees, ahead of a tornado kick into Slater on the corner. That sets up the Ultima Weapon, but Slater kicks out at two… Bailey looks to add a Flamingo Driver, but Slater counters out with a rebound off the ropes, only to run into a moonsault/fallaway slam. More see-saw pins end with a leg lariat from Slater… before the swanton 450 avoided the lights and led to the three-count as Slater retained.
Result: Leon Slater pinned Mike Bailey to retain the NORTH Championship in 23:14 (****)
That makes it 1-1 between these two – and I shudder to think of the improvements we’ll get if they rematch again in, say, 2026… and given the two are under contract to the same place, it’s only fair the “TNA vs. TNA” meeting that was hyped up so here happens on a proper TNA show.